A little late season magic was just what the John Carroll women's soccer program needed to keep its fall campaign alive.
           
The Blue Streaks knocked off opposing Muskingum by a score of 3-0 on Saturday evening at Don Shula Stadium.

The senior night win gives the Blue and Gold a spot in the postseason OAC tournament after Mount Union suffered a 2-0 loss to Otterbein earlier in the evening.
           
Nine minutes into the game and John Carroll took an early 1-0 lead thanks to Acadia Palocko's first collegiate goal. The line-drive shot was perfectly set up from a crossing pass over the middle by freshman Katie O'Donnell, her second assist of the season.

The remaining portion of the opening half featured a persistent defensive strategy that held Muskingum to a scoreless 45 minutes. At the half, JCU outshot the Fighting Muskies 13-5 and held a one goal advantage.

Bailey Fischer kicked off the second half with an unassisted goal, her seventh score on the fall. The goal came after Fischer weaved past three opposing defenders and outran a fourth to artfully place the ball in the back of the net.

About two minutes later, senior Danielle Sharbaugh fired a penalty kick between the pipes to expand the lead to three.

Sharbaugh, Taylor Tercek, Ascia Hancock-Phillips, Preston Mendel, and Sarah Ruckstuhl were honored before the game as part of the senior night festivities. The quintet of four-year players have been active contributors all season long under head coach Mike Marich.

The remaining minutes of the game quickly ticked by and JCU completed the Halloween shutout. The goalkeeping tandem of Tercek and Rhianna Guarnera fended off four shots on goal in the impressive defensive effort. On the offensive side of the ball, Mendel and Fischer combined for 12 of the team's 26 total shots.

Saturday evening marked the final regular season game of the year for the Blue Streaks. JCU will play on the road for its first match of the postseason OAC tournament against an opponent that is yet to be determined on Monday, November 2.